My name is Mark Desautels, and I am fairly new to the world of teaching. I am partway into my fourth term as the Residential Construction instructor with Thompson Rivers University, at the Williams Lake Campus.

I started my career as a carpenter many years ago, and after building custom homes for several years, I decided to head out on my own journey as an independent contractor.

Overall, I’ve spent almost 35 years in the carpentry and construction trade, 27 of those as a red seal carpenter, working in residential, commercial and industrial construction and renovation. I have travelled with my work, worked with large companies and small, and done everything from home building and finishing carpentry to heavy concrete and mill and mine construction.

I live in Williams Lake, B.C. with my beautiful wife of 31 years, Gaylene and my faithful companion Bruin, the golden retriever. We enjoy camping with our many camping buddies, zipping around on our e-bikes, gardening, and visiting our children, our grandchild and our very good friends in Kamloops, B.C.

It didn’t take me long to discover that I absolutely love teaching. I thoroughly enjoy the students, my co-workers and the process of passing on the knowledge I apparently have locked away in my head. Who knew? I feel a renewed sense of accomplishment each and every day, being able to reach deep into the wrinkled grey crevices of my brain and come out with something I thought I had completely lost, or at least forgotten…temporarily.

My goal is to continue on this journey for as long as everyone will put up with me, with my sincere wish to be a positive influence to friends, family and students alike.

Cheers, and the best of the best to everyone!